To understand the relationship, it's important to recognize that "transgender" describes a person whose gender identity differs from the sex they were assigned at birth. This is separate from sexual orientation, which refers to the gender(s) someone is attracted to. This means a trans person can have any sexual orientation—they may be gay, straight, bisexual, etc., further enriching the diversity within the community. The transgender umbrella is intentionally broad, encompassing not only trans men and trans women, but also individuals who do not fit within a strict male/female binary.

However, the report also flagged a troubling trend: 41% of those characters will not return, primarily due to cancellations and limited series runs. As GLAAD President and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis noted, "Audiences connect with stories over time. High turnover rates in LGBTQ+ characters prevent those stories from deepening and truly reflecting the lives of our communities".

While historically centered on gay men, the riots at the Stonewall Inn were largely propelled by trans women of color, drag queens, and street youth, including figures like Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera. They stood on the front lines against police harassment, cementing the necessity of intersectional advocacy from the beginning of the modern pride movement.

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To understand the contemporary landscape, it is vital to distinguish between the components of the LGBTQ acronym.

On June 28, 1969, when police raided the Stonewall Inn, it was the drag queens, transgender women, and queer people of color in the bar who fought back. Figures like and Sylvia Rivera , both transgender activists, became leading voices in the uprising. Rivera later co-founded the Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries (STAR) , the first organization in the U.S. led by a trans woman of color, which provided housing and support for homeless LGBTQ+ youth.